Keith Olberman on Fred Merkle's boner, 105 years later

[conor912]

of course Keith would have the actual ball.....

[t206blogcom]

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by CMIZ5290

Merkle's boner doesn't compare to Lonnie Smith's in the 1991 World Series (Braves vs. Twins)

Kevin, refresh my memory please. I watched the series, but don't remember that particular play. I could just look it up, but I'd rather hear it from a fan's perspective.

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

You can also listen to Fred Snodgrass' account of the incident in the audiobook "The Glory of Their Times". Snodgrass sticks up for Merkle, stating that in those days, the umps opened the gates so spectators could get on the field immediately after the game. He states this was the reason Merkle ran to the dugout after McCormick crossed the plate.

Listening to the ball players relate stories in the 1st person, brings the accounts to another level. You really get a feel for what a joker Chief Myers was, how Hans ("Little Hans") Lobert was taken under the wing by Honus Wagner or how Rube Marquard hitched rides on rail road cars rode for 3 days for a shot at playing pro ball. One of my favorite stories was of Victory Faust and how he became the team mascot.

This is the only book I where I prefer the audio version over the printed version. You can hear the enthusiasm they had for early baseball.


Z Wheat

Keith touched on the fans rushing the field back then. I think Merkle got a bad rap. If I were a 19 year old kid in the Majors, and I knew thousands of rowdy fans were going to be running my direction, I'd get the hell out of there, too. It was the league's fault for allowing the fans to rush the field, not Fred's.

I'll have to check out that audio book. Good suggestion!

Originally Posted by GoldenAge50s

Just wanted to add my raw Merkle Port into the mix. Didn't see the show.

Beautiful card, Fred. Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by Sean

Chris, I'm in San Diego. I'll post them tomorrow.
I saw the show. I loved it, even though Keith is wrong. Hank O'Day made the correct call. - Full disclosure: I'm a Cubs fan.
And their 105 years of bad baseball is not due to karma or curses, or anything but bad management. Okay, that Bartman thing could be curse-related.

By the way, how cool is it that Keith has the ball used to force out Merkle?

Sean, the call was right, absolutely. But like I said, I can't blame Merkle for getting the heck out of there.

We all need to go knocking on Mr. Olberman's front door. Maybe if we bad mouth ESPN enough, he'll let us in to see his collection.

Originally Posted by auggiedoggy

Oh, so now we're comparing boners?

How about this Jose Conseco assisted home run.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLs0pjWnzTY

Not an historic, game-changing boner but certainly one of the funniest.

Rob, I was watching that game when it happened. I was down in Houston at the time, watching it on the tube in my hotel room. I couldn't believe what I saw. I still can't.

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

I thought it was interesting how Evers never would have gotten that call from the ump if the identical situation hadn't occurred earlier in the season setting the stage for the call to be made by Hank O'Day. Good excuse to show off the Evers I just picked up.

That's a gorgeous card, and a perfect example of how a technical grade can be very misleading. There really should be a way of taking eye appeal into consideration when grading, but I suppose that's completely subjective.

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

"Keith Olberman on Fred Merkle's boner"

That is so wrong...As was this card:



And yes, as my wife frequently observes, I do have the emotional maturity of a 12 year old.

It is wrong, Adam, lol. But I must admit, it is better than some of the alternatives I considered:

"Olberman revisits Merkle's boner 105 years later."
"Olberman waxes enthusiastically about Merkle's boner."

There's just no title I could come up with that wouldn't elicit a guffaw of some sort. As for the maturity level comment, I'm right there with you.

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

There is an interesting write up of the incident in the great book "The Celebrant."

I'll seek that out, too, Peter. Thank you for the suggestion.

My reading list is becoming longer.

Originally Posted by Runscott

That reminds me of my first visit to a nude beach, but Merkle's was more embarrassing...probably.

I guess it depends on your perspective, Scott. Were you a viewer, or a participant?

Originally Posted by andy

T206 Evers portrait from a Cubs fan.

Great card, Andy.

Originally Posted by CardTarget

This just happened in the minors in July:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fr8mjRo544

Wow, somebody on the other team was very quick thinking.

Originally Posted by Big Ben

That was a great segment by Keith last night. My first T206 card was this Fred Merkle that I purchased at an antique shop years ago for $2. I had no idea who Merkle was at that time, but that purchase led me to do some research where I found the story about the "Merkle Boner". I wish that I had run across more T206's back then. I am also posting a T205 Evers with hopes that this Cubs fan can reverse the curse. (somehow)

If you happen to have any old Milwaukee Brewer T206s, please post them as well. We're only at 43 years without a World Series title, but I'm getting up there in years, and I'd like to see the beer flow in Milwaukee before I croak.

Originally Posted by xcgrammer

I am actually going to the Cubs game tomorrow with my Dad. We will probably go to Merkle's Bar which is a bar and grill in Wrigleyville. Great burgers on game day... 6 bucks comes with fries and the fries are awesome!!!

Jason, having never been to Wrigley unfortunately (hard to believe as I grew up in Milwaukee, and spent a lot of time in Chicago growing up), is the bar within the confines of the ball park, or just outside of it? Again, I could look it up, but it's always more fun to learn from somebody who has been there, and enjoys it. I hope you took some pictures.

Originally Posted by conor912

of course Keith would have the actual ball.....

As I said earlier in my post, Conor, I would kill to see his collection.

[xcgrammer]

Bill, it is actually just south of Wrigley about two blocks on Clark St. The logo is I believe from one of Merkle's card portraits, and they have several t206 cards framed on the wall and one larger one that is a blown up copy. I will see if I can get some pictures tomorrow and post them in this thread. Bill you really, really, should make it there to Wrigley, if you are a Brewers fan I bet you have been to old Comiskey from the Brew Crew's AL days, which I missed out on and kick myself over to this day although it was really out of my control since it was torn down when I was 10 years old. Two true cathedrals of baseball. Also the courthouse in my hometown Kankakee IL was designed by the architect who designed Wrigley and Comiskey, Zachary Taylor Davis who is known as the "Frank Lloyd Wright of Baseball."

[the 'stache]

That would be great, Jason, thank you.

If my back doc comes through for me, I'm going to take a trip back up north with my folks. I want to catch a ballgame at Miller Park with my dad. We'll also drive back down to Chicago, as we have family just outside the city. And I absolutely take in a ballgame at Wrigley (though I might just explode gorging myself on Chicago style hot dogs!). If I make it out of the ol' ballpark alive, then I'll check out Merkle's Bar.

There are three places I want to take in a game in my bucket list: Lambeau Field (I've flown over it, but have never seen the Packers there. I always saw them at the old County Stadium in Milwaukee when they played a few home games there each year). And then, of course, Fenway Park and Wrigley. In my opinion, those are the three Meccas in professional sports. Unfortunately, I never made it to old Yankee Stadium.

By the way, guys, I just wanted to say thank you. It's always interesting to me the direction discussions can go on Net 54, and this one is living up to expectations. In this case, the knowledge is just pouring out.

The suggested readings/listening are appreciated.

[xcgrammer]

Bill, you've gotta do it. Hope your back is fixed up soon. There is really nothing more American than baseball with your dad. Moments that you can't put a price on, worth whatever it takes to make it happen.

[Mikehealer]

Three Evers T cards.

[slipk1068]

"The Unforgettable Season" is a book about the 1908 pennant race. It is written 100% from newspaper accounts of the day. Read that book and you will feel like you are living through the 1908 season.

Am I seriously the only person here who has read this book?

[ZenPop]

Originally Posted by slipk1068

"The Unforgettable Season" is a book about the 1908 pennant race. It is written 100% from newspaper accounts of the day. Read that book and you will feel like you are living through the 1908 season.

Am I seriously the only person here who has read this book?

Oops, Slip! Only read your post after posting that one! That book has been read by Sean... and is currently being read by yours truly!

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by slipk1068

"The Unforgettable Season" is a book about the 1908 pennant race. It is written 100% from newspaper accounts of the day. Read that book and you will feel like you are living through the 1908 season.

Am I seriously the only person here who has read this book?

I've read it, and it's a solid effort. However, Cait Murphy's Crazy '08" is a far superior book about the 1908 pennant race. Her wit and irreverent humor make for a far more interesting account.